The Doctrine and Covenants

Section 70

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, November 12, 1831. The Prophet’s history states that four special conferences were held from the 1st to the 12th of November, inclusive. In the last of these assemblies, the great importance of the revelations that would later be published as the Book of Commandments and then the Doctrine and Covenants was considered. This revelation was given after the conference voted that the revelations were “worth to the Church the riches of the whole Earth.” Joseph Smith’s history refers to the revelations as “the foundation of the Church in these last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.”

1–5, Stewards are appointed to publish the revelations; 6–13, Those who labor in spiritual things are worthy of their hire; 14–18, The Saints should be equal in temporal things.

1 Behold, and hearken, O ye inhabitants of Zion, and all ye people of my church who are afar off, and ahear the word of the Lord which I give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and also unto my servant Martin Harris, and also unto my servant Oliver Cowdery, and also unto my servant John Whitmer, and also unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also unto my servant bWilliam W. Phelps, by the way of commandment unto them.

2 For I give unto them a commandment; wherefore hearken and hear, for thus saith the Lord unto them—

3 I, the Lord, have appointed them, and ordained them to be astewards over the revelations and commandments which I have given unto them, and which I shall hereafter give unto them;

4 And an account of this astewardship will I require of them in the day of judgment.

5 Wherefore, I have appointed unto them, and this is their business in the church of God, to amanage them and the concerns thereof, yea, the benefits thereof.

6 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not give these things unto the church, neither unto the aworld;

7 Nevertheless, inasmuch as they areceive more than is needful for their necessities and their wants, it shall be given into my bstorehouse;

8 And the abenefits shall be consecrated unto the inhabitants of Zion, and unto their generations, inasmuch as they become bheirs according to the laws of the kingdom.

9 Behold, this is what the Lord requires of every man in his astewardship, even as I, the Lord, have appointed or shall hereafter appoint unto any man.

10 And behold, none are exempt from this alaw who belong to the church of the living God;

11 Yea, neither the bishop, neither the aagent who keepeth the Lord’s storehouse, neither he who is appointed in a stewardship over btemporal things.

12 He who is appointed to administer spiritual things, the same is aworthy of his hire, even as those who are appointed to a stewardship to administer in temporal things;

13 Yea, even more abundantly, which abundance is multiplied unto them through the amanifestations of the Spirit.

14 Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be aequal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be bwithheld.

15 Now, this commandment I give unto my servants for their abenefit while they remain, for a manifestation of my blessings upon their heads, and for a breward of their cdiligence and for their security;

16 For food and for araiment; for an inheritance; for houses and for lands, in whatsoever circumstances I, the Lord, shall place them, and whithersoever I, the Lord, shall send them.

17 For they have been faithful over amany things, and have done well inasmuch as they have not sinned.

18 Behold, I, the Lord, am amerciful and will bless them, and they shall enter into the joy of these things. Even so. Amen.